Belmont Stakes 2016: Todd Pletcher looks for Third Win

Exaggerator, the runner-up in the Kentucky Derby, and the impressive winner of the Preakness, looms the one to beat in next Saturday’s Belmont Stakes 2016. However, recent favorites, other than the great American Pharoah last year, have not been a good bet in the final leg of racing’s Triple Crown. If indeed the son of a Curlin is to show a level vulnerability in his third big race within a stretch of five weeks, America’s top trainer, Todd Pletcher, looks to have a very strong duo in which to pull off the upset. In Destin and Stradivari, the seven-time Eclipse Award winning conditioner has two very talented, relatively fresh, and perhaps most importantly, the two horses with the most speed in an otherwise paceless race. I believe they both have a big shot at giving Pletcher his third victory in the Belmont. After a slow start, the 48-year-old trainer has an excellent record in the American classic. Let’s take a look at his history.

2000 - Pletcher’s first Belmont runner was Impeachment, and he finished 5^th behind his mentor D. Wayne Lukas, who pulled off the upset with Commendable.

2001 - While Point Given was a dominant winner, to add to his Preakness victory for trainer Bob Baffert, Pletcher had two finish well back in Invisible Ink (5^th) and Balto Star (8^th).

               [Get FREE Belmont tips on Horse Racing Nation]

2004 - Purge was unable to handle the 12 furlongs and faded to 9^th and last for Pletcher, as Birdstone famously rallied by Smarty Jones late.

2006 - In his first strong Belmont result, Pletcher saddled two: Bluegrass Cat (2^nd) and Sunriver (3^rd), as Jazil powered home late to victory.

2007 - His seventh Belmont starter provided Pletcher his first win, as the filly Rags to Riches outdueled Curlin to the wire in a thriller.

2008 - While Da’ Tara shocked the world, and Big Brown fizzled, Pletcher saw his only entrant, Ready’s Echo, dead heat for 3^rd.

2009 - Splitting the Birds, Dunkirk ran a very game 2^nd for Pletcher, ahead of the Derby winner, Mine That Bird, but behind the future champion, Summer Bird.

2010 - After several good Belmont results in a row, Pletcher’s Interactif could not keep the streak going, finishing 7^th behind Drosselmeyer.

2011 - Not many expected Ruler On Ice to win, but the game runner-up was also a bit of a surprise; it was Stay Thirsty for Pletcher at 16-1.

2013 - After a rare year with no Belmont starters, Pletcher came back guns blazing the following year. Among his five was the winner Palace Malice; also Revolutionary (5^th), Unlimited Budget (6^th), Overanalyze (7^th), and Midnight Taboo (12^th).

2014 -  With two runners in the Tonalist-won edition, Pletcher earned a 2^nd with Commissioner, who just missed, and Matterhorn (8^th).

2015 – No horse was going to stop American Pharoah, but Pletcher did not have a good Belmont last year, with Madefromlucky (6^th) and Materiality (8^th).